Darkstone Code

"You're leaving?" Vera looked at Lynch with some shock; she didn't quite understand why Lynch suddenly decided to leave the Federation.

From Lynch's very deliberate and serious demeanor when he came to tell her about it, it seemed the time wouldn't be short. "Will it be a long time?"

Lynch nodded as he peeled a fruit on the table, a very common fruit that, a year ago, this family wouldn't have purchased while it still had its peel on.

They would shop at some upscale supermarkets—

In the Bail Federal, there are some supermarkets specifically targeting the middle class. These supermarkets filter their clientele to a certain degree; their method is simple, charging membership fees.

Membership fees ranging from $150 to $500 a year categorize all the customers into tiers.

Does this mean the products in these supermarkets are necessarily good?

Not necessarily, but these supermarkets create an atmosphere of higher sophistication and consider more for customers, thinking of things customers might not even think of themselves, such as peeling fruit.

Whether it's hard-shell or soft-shell fruit, there are always some people who can't handle them. Supermarket employees dress as if about to step onto the operating table, then peel the chosen fruit in front of the customer, cut it, place it well, and package it.

Ensuring that customers can eat directly upon returning home, without having to deal with it themselves.

Various services make those with higher incomes willing to spend more on such convenience, which is an attitude shared by the middle class; they earn more than ordinary people and gladly pay to enjoy life to improve their social status.

The situation has somewhat changed; after divorcing Gap, Vera kept some main assets, but only partially.

Gap voluntarily abandoned all assets, walking away cleanly; however, the court rejected his statement. Their family savings, stock accounts, and various shared assets were confiscated, including half of their house rights.

Originally, the house was to be taken, but Vera paid to buy the house that already belonged to them.

Of course, the money spent wasn't much, about half the market price, which made her less financially comfortable.

She already knew how to choose between $1 a pound unpeeled fruit and $5.98 a pound peeled fruit.

Lynch threw the fruit peel in the trash, biting into the fresh sweet fruit and nodding, "I might be gone for three months to half a year, maybe I'll come back early, or it might be later..."

He slurped the juice from the fleshy part, "So I need to tell you, during the time I'm not in the Federation, you have to keep an eye on all the company accounts for me, do you understand what I mean?"

Seeing Vera not quite grasping it, he quickly finished the fruit in his hand, picked up a towel to wipe his hands while speaking, "The board members and I are not on the same page, I've arranged everything else but can only rely on you for the accounts."

Over two months ago, he had already found a suitable manager through some connections, a male.

This young manager named Joyce is only thirty-five, in his peak of energy, physical strength, and brainpower.

This person is ambitious and has strong opinions, meaning he is not easily manipulated by others on the board.

The mistakes a young man might make he wouldn't; his fighting spirit and his aspirations for the future make him consider carefully whether to taint his career record, plus Lynch's some control measures, ensuring there are no major issues.

There's no need to worry about problems from the board, but the finances are still risky. Without a reliable person, just a few small tricks could empty Lynch's company, highlighting Vera's unquestionable importance.

Lynch's demeanor—the seriousness in his expression and gaze—after a moment of silence, Vera nodded; this time she didn't make excuses to shirk the responsibility.

Having gone through so much, she gradually realized the road ahead might not be easy, and without help, she couldn't make it with a child.

Rather than testing cooperation with a stranger, she might as well sincerely work hard for Lynch, at least they were familiar.

This matter seemed to have a clear answer or outcome; after a brief silence between them, Vera suddenly mentioned Lynch's plan, "If you're gone so long, you'll miss the new semester!"

Lynch once said he planned to further his studies in university, especially at a Saint Harmony Alliance school, which Vera knew meant something significant, as everyone did.

The influence of the Saint Harmony Association in Federation Society is too great, whether for celebrities or politicians, capitalists or scholars; among the cream of these people, most are members of Saint Harmony or have ties to it.

People are willing to believe that "the Saint Harmony Association controls the Federation and even the world through conspiracy" with some basis, naturally elevating Saint Harmony's status.

The simplest way to become a Saint Harmony member is through Saint Harmony Alliance campuses, also the simplest and most effective way to filter their members, similar to those upscale supermarkets.

Students who can afford to attend the Saint Harmony Alliance Schools generally come from at least middle-class families, inherently having more advantages than ordinary people.

Connections, wealth, status, various advantages.

These already exceptional individuals gather to compete, ultimately selecting a few to join Saint Harmony, ensuring each year's additions are the best.

They bring new things to Saint Harmony, completing the interpersonal network, one of the main reasons Saint Harmony subtly influences the Federation.

Of course, nothing is absolute, Lynch only smiled at Vera's doubt, "I have my ways..."

If his business in Nagariel succeeds enough this time, it will prove those theories he spoke at some radical salons were correct.

He might donate some money and get associated with a Saint Harmony Alliance school, and surely they wouldn't mind.

Most non-Secret Society institutions are doing the same thing—expanding influence, Saint Harmony included.

They never hide themselves from outsiders; instead, they hope people know them. They hold semi-public events, not avoiding people's discussions, needing influence, which happens to be Lynch's forte.

He will become a wave of the era, nothing more influential than people and events like that, and Saint Harmony will offer him an invitation.

Vera understood these things less than Lynch; she forced a smile, signifying her comprehension of Lynch's arrangement, the events she experienced in mere months making it now hard for her to smile, feeling tired.

A fatigue from the soul, she felt very exhausted.

After leaving Vera's home, Lynch visited Nell, needing his father's help.

Lynch's parents had moved out of their original neighborhood, taking advantage of the financial recession to buy a large detached house in a middle-class community at a bargain.

Lynch understood his parents' actions, which are the most urgent, genuine aspirations of Bail society's lowest—large houses.

Narrow public rental apartments in Lower City made every home feel like a box; with fewer family members, it might be okay. But with more, the living room turns into a bedroom at night, creating great inconveniences.

People's longing for large homes surpasses their desire to squander money, so after Nell had money, the first thing he did was sell that damned small house and get a big house.

Nell now differs greatly from a few months ago; he is gradually understanding how to act like someone he once viewed as above the rest.

Most people who emerge from the bottom go through this process Nell experienced, thinking if they became managers, they'd use humane management and friendly methods to gain workers' friendship, striving together in a relatively harmonious environment.

But that's not the case. Nell began working with the workers, thinking his leadership style would motivate them to exert themselves independently.

He improved workers' welfare, adding large beef chunks to the lunch menu, providing free juice and fruit.

Yet these workers, apart from calling him a "foo-," were not more active in work; some secretly mocked him for acting and putting on a show.

Then he finally understood how to use rules and penalties to discipline lazy workers; effectiveness comes from awe, not enthusiasm and friendship.

This is a management journey from naïve to mature!

Nell and Serra welcomed Lynch, and Serra, after holding Lynch's hand for a while, went to prepare dinner for the men, leaving Nell and Lynch in the living room.

Seeing Nell dressed in bright and shiny clothes, in stark contrast to his worn attire from months ago.

"Need me to do anything?" Nell asked casually.

Managing a construction company for a few months, Nell gradually learned some things, realizing Lynch wouldn't visit without reason.

Lynch slightly adjusted to a comfortable sitting position, nodding, "Indeed, something. Remember that incident two or three months ago, at your former factory, those thieves..."